Diego Simeone explained snub of Jurgen Klopp as he's centre of fan bust-up

Diego Simeone has revealed that his distaste for post-match handshakes was behind his snub of Jurgen Klopp back in 2021. The Atletico Madrid chief's decision to blank the former Liverpool boss occurred almost four years prior to his latest controversy involving the Premier League champions.

The Argentine was given his marching orders during his team's 3-2 Champions League loss at Anfield on Wednesday after becoming involved in a furious row with Liverpool supporters following Virgil van Dijk's injury-time winner.

Security staff were compelled to restrain the 55-year-old, who tried to barge past them. He eventually settled down and was escorted down the tunnel after receiving his red card from referee Maurizio Mariani.

Whilst Simeone's behaviour was the most dubious regarding incidents with Liverpool, it wasn't his maiden offence. This followed the Reds' 3-2 victory over Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium in 2021, when Simeone openly expressed his aversion to post-match pleasantries.

The Atletico boss's choice was criticised by Klopp, but he hit back at the time: "I've already explained myself after the first match. I don't like the handshake greetings after the match as they are the emotions of two different sides in different emotional minds.

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"So I don't like that greeting after the match. I know in the UK it is a custom and all about chivalry, but I don't share it and I don't like the falseness. So I behave as I feel. I don't know Klopp as a person, but he is a great coach and has been great everywhere he has been.

"I don't give an opinion on other teams, we are coaches and we all have to respect that." Liverpool's Champions League opener got off to a blistering start, with Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah both finding the net inside the opening six minutes to hand Arne Slot's men a commanding early advantage.

But strikes in each half from Marcos Llorente saw the La Liga outfit stage a remarkable fightback that was ultimately thwarted by Van Dijk's thunderous header deep into stoppage time.

It was the Netherlands captain's decisive strike that triggered Simeone's confrontation with the Anfield faithful. Following the final whistle, he alleged that supporters had subjected him to constant abuse.

"They always talk about taking care of each other, but they insult you throughout the entire match, and you can't say anything because you're the manager," he said. "My reaction was unjustifiable, but do you know what it's like to be insulted for 90 minutes, to turn around after the opponent scores and still be insulted?

"It's not that easy. (The referee told me) he understood me. I hope Liverpool can improve that aspect and that when they identify the person who did that, there will be consequences. There were insults throughout the match, including gestures.

"It's clear that I'm the one who has to stay calm, I have to put up with the insults, the gestures and any situation. Because I'm in a position where I have to put up with it."

Liverpool are now gearing up for the Merseyside derby against Everton this Saturday, before jetting off to Istanbul for their next European showdown against Galatasaray.

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